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Rabat – Moroccan officials have turned to Malaysia as they search for practical ways to address one of the country’s most persistent economic challenges, which is the scale of informal activity and its impact on growth and inclusion.
A delegation representing Morocco’s Head of Government Department and the Ministry of Economy and Finance traveled to Kuala Lumpur for a study visit held within a joint framework with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
The mission placed a clear priority on how to integrate informal businesses into the formal economy while strengthening local development strategies.
Over two days of meetings, Moroccan representatives sat down with several Malaysian ministries, including those in charge of finance, economy, entrepreneurship, higher education, and local government.
The discussions examined the mechanisms Malaysia has put in place to help small economic actors transition into formal structures.
Officials reviewed policies that target micro-enterprises and very small and medium-sized businesses, categories that form the backbone of both economies but often operate outside regulatory systems.
Malaysian experience offered insight into incentive schemes, administrative simplification, and support mechanisms that encourage registration without placing excessive pressure on small operators.
For the Moroccan side, the visit also served as an opportunity to present ongoing reforms at home. Delegates pointed to broader social and economic policies that aim to reduce informality, particularly through expanded social protection and programs that widen access to economic participation.
These exchanges reflect a wider shift in approach. Rather than treating informality solely as a regulatory issue, policymakers increasingly frame it as a question of inclusion, access, and trust in institutions.
The visit fits into a longer partnership between Morocco and the OECD, reinforced by an agreement signed in September 2024.
Through this cooperation, Moroccan authorities continue to seek tested international practices while adapting them to local realities, to build a more structured and inclusive economic landscape.
